is the menopause like PMT x 100?

[Meglet]

I ask because, frankly, my hormones are shot to pieces lately. I had a hysterectomy last summer, my ovaries are still in but I've heard it can trigger an early menopause.

I have no idea when my PMT days should be anymore but my moods are up and down and my dc's are getting shouted at far more than they deserve .
Maybe this isn't just stress driving me up the wall and it's the menopause kicking in a little early?

Does it make you go a little crazy when it starts to happen?

bump..

I would suggest you go back to your GP and ask for a referral back to your gynaecologist. The reason I suggest that is because it's not always the case that the menopause causes mood swings, etc. I went through the menopause naturally but I didn't experience any difference in mood swings (which I tended not to suffer from much anyway). I just had night sweats/hot flushes, which weren't particularly bothersome and dwindled away after a year or two.

I would think that if you are experiencing early onset of the menopause then the night sweats and hot flushes would be the more likely first symptom.

You don't say why you had the hysterectomy - could your current symptoms be a delayed reaction to whatever you had to deal with last year?

I would, however, suggest that you tell your GP/gynaecologist that you have two concerns, possible early menopause and also mood swings, so they are focussed on both, rather than just one or the other.

I now have PMT type moods 3 weeks out of every four, and am pretty sure it's because I'm perimenopausal. Walking fast in the open air helps a bit, but I don't much fancy the other medical options - though a pal of mine says her life has been transformed since they put her on the pill for her menopause/PMT symptoms.

uglymugly I had the op because I have had several years of very abnormal smears and two operations to remove CIN3 cells. When I had another dodgy result early last year my consultant was not confident he could take out the offending part of my cervix as it was so scarred and distorted. As a result the whole thing came out. So no problems with hormones or periods, just a knackered cervix.

Definately no hot flushes or night sweats but I think I will see my GP anyway on your advice .

Hi meglet - I had a hysterectomy for stage one cancer 2 years ago aged 30. I also kept my ovaries.

I was told I would be likely to have the menopause 5 - 10 years earlier. I've been to the gp recently because of mood swings and sleep disturbances, not night sweats exactly just really hot and bothered and cross sometimes even ono a cold night.

One of my hormones is raised suggesting peri-menopause but it was an equivocal result and my eostrogen was fine. We are reviewing in 6 months.

I've been seeing a herbalist and it has really made a difference actually. My sleep has improved and I have felt slightly less murderous towards the family . I can't remember what's in my mix, st johns wort and vitex and various other hormone balancing things. Might be worth looking into.

I agree withthe otehrs- it does not sound like the menopause.
I had very few mood swings with my menopause.